The Indian team has always been famous for producing crafty spinners, however, for the first time, in the build-up to the ensuing four-Test series against Australia, India have acquired a prominent pace attack that has the ability to claim all 20 wickets in each and every innings.
Mohammed Shami can move the new ball and the old, while Umesh Yadav’s can bowling consistently at a fierce pace, Ishant Sharma’s extra bounce and Jasprit Bumrah’s ability to launch yorkers at will add the X-factor to the bowling attack. The veteran South African pacer, South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn, who lit up the Perth stadium with hostile bowling in Australia recently, reckons Indian bowlers should bowl straight and put the batsmen immediately under pressure.
As per the quotes in NDTV, Steyn said, “Any time you play against Australia it’s tough. As a bowler, mark lengths, bowl straight, put them under pressure. The conditions are always going to be tough for any batsman. If you are fielding near fine-leg make sure you have the 12th man with you to take the heat off as the crowds get really abusive from time to time.”
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Injuries have kept Steyn out of action for almost two years until he made his comeback on the tour of Australia this year when he picked seven wickets in three ODIs.
Talking about the same, Steyn said, “The last two years were really hard as I lost almost two years of my playing career. I played almost 13-14 (years) without any injuries. It was 12 years of international career, the longest injury being a couple of months due to a broken thumb. It was not too difficult to stay motivated. I enjoyed the break. Then it was all about getting back and going again. Once you miss the game you can do anything to get back in the fold again.”
When asked about who was more difficult to bowl to – Sachin Tendulkar or Virat Kohli – Steyn replied that since’ Sachin’s retirement, the game has changed a lot. He feels that Tendulkar was master of pushing the run-rate at will. He also asserted the Kohli is a fantastic player and if Sachin played in the same gear as Kohli, who is in the best form of his life right now, they would have been the same.
